A large number of experiments have been conducted regarding the beneficial effects of drip irrigation over other methods, like sprinkler or surface irrigation. Advantages of drip irrigation include the saving of water, the efficient utilisation of applied nutrients, water having a higher salt content can be used for irrigation and less weed intensity as a result of less surface area wetted. Capsicum plants irrigated with water containing 95 mg L and having electrical conductivity of 0.6 mmhos...

Table 15.1 shows the mean extractable value (ASTA units) and tint of paprika obtained from six pepper varieties grown in greenhouse and open air (G mez et al., 1998a). Note that the greenhouse varieties show higher ASTA units and higher tint values in all cases. Table 15.2 gives the values corresponding to the CIELAB colour space co-ordinates (L*, a*, b*), chromatic quotients and chroma for the colour by reflection of the fruits for both growing systems. In the red fruits the greenhouse values...

A wide array of fertilizer recommendations have been reported in chillies. The choice will be based on soil type, irrigated or rainfed cultivation and the variety to be grown. Chilli crops generally respond well to nitrogen and potash application rather than phosphorus. Usually, phosphorus and potash fertilizers are applied in one dose, while nitrogenous fertilizers are given in two or three split doses. The practice in Tamil Nadu is basal dressing with 60 kg of phosphorus (375 kg of...

Capsaicin Dihydrocapsaicin &lt Capsaicinoid group l&gt Figure 5.1 Proposed biosynthetic pathway of capsaicinoids. fatty acid moieties from l-valine or l-leucine (Bennet and Kirby, 1968 Leete and Louden, 1968) (Figure 5.1). The intensive work of Iwai was particularly important for the establishment of the fundamental aspects of the biosynthetic pathway of capsaicinoids (Iwai, 1986). The pathway proposed for the biosynthesis of the vanillylamine moiety of capsaicinoids from l-phenylalanine is as...

Biotransformation is a growing field of biotechnology and encompasses both enzymatic and plant microbial biocatalysis. It is a process through which the functional groups of organic compounds, for example, substrates or precursors or-intermediates, are modified either stereo- or regio- specifically by living cultures, entrapped cells or enzymes or permeabilized cells to a chemically different product. Biotransformations can produce novel compounds, and it is possible to enhance the productivity...